By John Bassetti

bassetti@vindy.com

HUBBARD

After 11-plus scoreless minutes during which time Hubbard (4-1) and Lakeview (1-4) had eight possessions, the first 33 points came in a span of 3 minutes, 11 seconds.

Also during that time were three interceptions, two lost fumbles and four missed point-after attempts.

The cornupocia-type game between the AAC White Tier teams finally produced 1,062 yards of offense with Hubbard winning, 46-25, behind Ashton Owens’ five touchdown passes.

“It was determination to come out and play as a team,” said Owens, a 6-1, 185 senior who threw three TDs to Darnell Tate and one apiece to Larry Scott and Ryan Smith. Tate and Scott also ran for one touchdown.

“I know where they’re going to be at the right time,” Owens said of him choosing the right receivers during the right plays at the right times. “Everybody has the ability to do what they can to be very effective.

“We‘ve got all the weapons and they [offensive line] did an excellent job and I appreciate everything they did. We’ve improved, but we’ve got to keep improving.

“We got one down [won], now we’ve got to keep getting more down and keep on winning,” Owens said, referring to Girard next.

Hubbard coach Brian Hoffman said he was happy with the way Owens handled the offense.

“He made some good decisions and stayed pretty poised in the pocket and made some big-time throws with traffic. Our passing game in the second half opened up the running game and we were able to get some creases [openings] which allowed Tyler Karabin and Darnell [Tate] and Larry [Scott] to benefit from that toward the end of the third quarter and in the fourth quarter.

He said it was game of a lot of offense and a lot of big plays, including Scott’s 93-yard run and Adam Thirion’s PAT in the third quarter that put the Eagles ahead, 40-19.

When Hubbard was nursing a 20-19 lead in the second quarter sophomore Alex Greathouse made a contribution.

“I’m proud of the way we were able to settle down defensively and make some plays when we needed to,” Hoffman said of players, such as Greathouse.

“A sophomore comes in the game as a role player and we asked him to help out as a substitution to get some fresh legs in there. So he comes in and makes a very nice play. I was very satisfied with his performance.”

Ryan Smith’s 8-yard TD pass from Owens and Vlassios Pizanias’ extra-point kick put the Eagles ahead, 26-19, just before halftime.

Lakeview quarterback Anthony Franco was the big arm with 29 of 53 for 451 yards. However, he had three interceptions, by Mike Tobey, Zach Merrell and Greathouse.Hubbard’s Scott also had nine carries for 138 yards.